Russ Hedge Of Hostelling International USA: Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO

An Interview With Ben Ari

Never waste an opportunity to share a compelling story. Over time, my use of stories in public presentations has moved away from the humorous to more purpose driven. They are now a way to deliver a point and make a more personal connection with my audience.

As a part of our series called ‘Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO’ we had the pleasure of interviewing Russ Hedge.

For more than 30 years, Russ Hedge has been serving the youth travel sector and leading by example. Since 2000, Russ has been the CEO of Hostelling International USA (HI USA). Russ is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from sustainability, to youth travel, to impact travel and serves on several boards supporting the youth travel community. A native of Wisconsin, Hedge received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and his Master of Arts degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.